MSC Adds Weekly Shipping Service From Tianjin to South Africa
On 18 April 2026, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) officially launched a new weekly shipping service from Tianjin in China to the Ports of Durban and Ngqura (Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. MSC is the largest shipping line by fleet size, with a carrying capacity of nearly 7 million #TEU and is operating this route as an extension of its existing Ingwe Service. To meet the demand and have a weekly service, it plans to deploy a dozen ships on that loop. The transit time is expected to be around 40 days, taking into account some stopovers along the way.
Taking advantage of its position next to the capital Beijing, Tianjin serves as the gateway to the Tianjin-Beijing-Hebei Greater Area. Being located in northern China, it is theoretically possible for a ship from Tianjin to pick up goods along the Chinese coast while moving southward. Initially, the container ships deployed will be mostly medium-sized with a capacity between 5,000 and 12,000 TEU.
It is worth noting that this is the first shipping route from Tianjin to Africa. The operationalization of the route takes place as the zero-tariff policy for African countries becomes effective on the 1st of May, 2026. In 2025, the China-Africa trade volume reached USD 348 billion and displayed a record 18% growth year-on-year. Moreover, the trade volume is expected to reach USD 400 billion in 2026. South Africa is China’s largest trading partner in Africa, with nearly USD 60 billion of bilateral trade, accounting for nearly 20% of the overall China-Africa trade volume.
In 2025, Tianjin Port achieved a throughput of 25 million TEU, positioning Tianjin as the 6th largest port in China and the 9th busiest globally. As part of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (#FYP15), the Tianjin Port plans to expand its capacity to 35 million TEU by 2035.
| Carrier | Service/ Ship | Ports |
|---|---|---|
| Maersk | Safari | Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Tanjung Pelepas – Port Louis – Durban and back |
| Maersk | Far East West Africa 3 | Qingdao – Kwangyang – Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Nansha – Singapore – Tema – Lekki – Abidjan – Pointe Noire – Colombo -Singapore – Xiamen – Qingdao |
| Maersk | Far East West Africa 6 | Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Singapore – Pointe Noire – Kribi – Luanda – Walvis Bay – Singapore – Qingdao |
| MSC | Iroko | Ningbo – Nansha – Pasir Panjang – Pointe Noire – Cotonou – Lagos – Onne – Lobito – Singapore – Xiamen |
| MSC | Ingwe | Tianjin – Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Singapore – Port Louis – Coega – Durban – Port Louis – Hambantota – Hong Kong |
| CMA CGM | Kilima | Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Pasir Panjang – Colombo – Lamu – Mombasa – Dar es Salaam – Colombo – Pasir Panjang – Shanghai |
| CMA CGM | Kanimambo | Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai – Singapore – Colombo – Mombasa – Dar es Salaam – Beira |
| CMA CGM | Asia-West Africa Express 1 | Qingdao – Ningbo – Nansha – Shekou – Singapore – Colombo – Abidjan – Lekki – Kribi – Vung Tau |
| COSCO | Green Nagoya | Qingdao – Ningbo – Singapore – Port Louis – Dar es Salaam – Mombasa – Beira – Durban |
(Port calls may vary depending on weather and market conditions)
In the context of the tension around the #HormuzStrait, shipping majors are gathering in Singapore for the 20th Maritime Week from 20 to 24 April 2026 to discuss its impact and potential mitigation measures. Since the Red Sea Crisis, the #CapeRoute has been witnessing increased traffic as ships divert from the war zone.